Addiction Medicine | My CMO Bookstack

When I joined Enterhealth last fall as Chief Medical Officer, I began curating a personal reading stack — books that could help me reengage more intentionally with the field of addiction psychiatry. After over a decade working in dual diagnosis mental health care, especially with veterans, active-duty service members and first responders, I saw this transition as a chance to revisit both the science and the story of addiction from multiple angles: neurobiological, behavioral, cultural, and personal.

Some of these titles I’ve read; others are in progress. All of them earned their place for what they offer — not just about addiction as a condition, but about the people, systems, and beliefs surrounding it.

Here’s what’s currently on my desk — in the order they appear in the photo — and why each book made it into my CMO bookstack.

Bookstack

What It Is Like to Be an Addict - Daniel Flanagan

A searing, introspective memoir from a philosophy graduate turned heroin addict. Flanagan offers a rare, unvarnished window into the lived experience and inner logic of addiction — devoid of clinical detachment, rich in existential insight.

Out of the Wreck I Rise - Steinberg & Bader

This anthology is narrative medicine at its best—a book I return to often, finding echoes of my patients’ journeys within its pages. More than just a source of comfort and insight, it helps deepen empathy—for clinicians and anyone touched by addiction. Out of the Wreck I Rise reminds us that recovery isn’t just about healing, but about rediscovering meaning and humanity along the way. This is one of my favorite books in narrative medicine that I like to revisit.

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts - Gabor Mate, MD

Maté brings together neuroscience, trauma theory, and firsthand stories from his clinical work in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to reveal how early adversity shapes vulnerability to addiction. Essential for those practicing from a trauma-informed perspective.

Craving: Why We Can’t Seem To Get Enough - Omar Manejwala, MD

A practical, highly readable guide to the mechanics of craving and compulsion. Drawing on clinical experience, my friend, Manejwala unpacks how cravings work — not just for substances — and equips readers with strategies to overcome them.

Healing the Addicted Brain: The Revolutionary, Science-Based Alcoholism and Addiction Recovery Program – Harold Urschel, MD

Authored by Enterhealth’s clinical founder, this book presents an integrative, science-driven treatment model—blending medical, psychological, and behavioral care. It’s foundational for understanding the Enterhealth clinical approach, where Treatment Redefined represents an ongoing commitment to incorporating the latest evidence-informed strategies and continually evolving recovery for individuals and families.

Buzzed: The Straight Facts about the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol to Ecstacy - Cynthia Kuhn,, PHD, et al.

A crisp, scientifically grounded overview of the world’s most used and misused substances. Buzzed remains a staple for anyone seeking clear, impartial information—whether you’re a clinician, a patient, or a concerned loved one.

The Urge: Our History of Addiction - Carl Erik Fisher

Equal parts memoir and cultural history, Fisher’s book traces how society has defined, feared, and misunderstood addiction. As a psychiatrist in recovery, his voice is both personal and scholarly.

Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear - Dr. Carl L. Hart

Hart delivers a challenging perspective: that not all drug use is inherently disordered, and that current drug policies often reflect fear-based narratives more than scientific evidence. This book was recommended by a patient as reading for clinicians navigating the legal, ethical, and societal dimensions of substance use. On my to-be-read list.

Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence - Anna Lembke, MD

From smartphones to sugar to sex, Lembke mines her psychiatric practice to illustrate how modern life overwhelms our dopamine-driven reward circuitry. The case studies and practical wisdom are especially relevant for today’s clinicians.

How to Change Your Mind - Micheal Pollan

While centered on psychedelics, Pollan’s book explores the broader therapeutic and spiritual potential of altered states. As psychedelic-assisted treatments move closer to clinical reality, this context is essential for anyone working in addiction or mental health.

A note on links:

Where possible, book titles above are linked to our curated Noesis Clinic Bookshelf on Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookstores. These links aren’t about affiliate income, but about offering trusted, thoughtfully selected resources — and reflecting the deeper meaning behind the name of our private practice, Noesis: the art of understanding.

Final Thoughts

This bookstack reflects the questions I’ve been sitting with as we support individuals and families on their path to recovery — questions about how we define addiction, how we treat it, and how we walk alongside those experiencing it.

Some of these titles reaffirm long-standing models; others push against them. But together, they represent a kind of continuing education — not just in medicine, but in empathy.

📬 I’d love to hear from you:

What books have shaped how you understand addiction — whether as a clinician, caregiver, patient, policy-maker, or curious reader?

Drop your thoughts or book recommendations in the comments on the blog. I read every one.

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Stay Curious

— Dr. Latif